1994 Geo Prizm Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO PRIZM. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2009, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON HER NECK, CHEST, AND FACE. IN ADDITION, HER NOSE AND FINGER WERE SWOLLEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE THE ISSUE INVESTIGATED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,902.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO PRIZM. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND CUTS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE. HER FACE WAS SWOLLEN AND SHE COMPLAINED OF A SEVERE BURN-LIKE INJURY TO HER CHEST AREA. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 238,975.

DT: THE CONTACT TRIED TO ORDER A NEW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FROM A DEALER FOR 1994 GEO PRIZM. THE GM DEALER DID NOT HAVE IT AND COULD NOT GET ONE. THE CONSUMER ORDERED IT FROM TOYOTA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS COMPATIBLE WITH A TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WANTED TO COMPLAIN THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A SEAT BELT FOR HIS CAR FROM GENERAL MOTORS. ALSO, HE WAS CONCERNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL NOT KNOW THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THIS.*AK

NEVER INFORMED OF RECALLS FOR AIR BAG LIGHT AND DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FOUND RECALLS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. NOTIFIED GM, WAITING ON RESPONSE.*AK

DURING LIGHT TO MEDIUM BRAKING, THE ABS ACTIVE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BEGIN UN-LOCKING THE BRAKES. THIS WOULD BE DESIRABLE IN THE WINTER, ON ICE, IN A PANIC SITUATION. IT WAS HOWEVER DRY AND SUNNY ON THE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. NOBODY WAS INJURED DURING THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF OTHER TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTIONS INVOLVED. I TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE MAIN ABS RELAY. THE ABS IS DISENGAGED BUT THE VEHICLE CAN NOW STOP. *TR

FRONT LEFT BRAKE WEARS UNUSUALLY FAST. HAD BRAKES REPLACED 2 TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS. ABS NOT WORKING. HAD MY GEO FOR 9 YEARS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM.*AK

ABS: AT FIRST, THE LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RUN, AND A SENSOR WAS REPLACED (ALL THAT WAS OVER $400). NOW THE LIGHT COMES ON (AND STAYS ON) AT 49 MPH. ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. AS FOR THE WINDOW: ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING WITH THE WINDOW HALFWAY DOWN. WHEN I TRIED TO ROLL IT BACK UP, IT WOULDN'T GO. IT JUST STAYED THERE, THEN STARTED SLIDING DOWN. A REPAIR SHOP FIXED IT.*AK

WINDSHIELD MANUFACTURED INCORRECTELY, WHEN LOOKING THROUGH WIHDSHIELD VIEW IS DISTORTED. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK WINDSHIELDS WERE REPLACED TWICE BUT WERE DEFECTIVE. *YH

ON THE 4-DOOR MODEL OF THE GEO PRIZM LSI, THE REAR DOOR LATCH/LOCK MECHANISMS FAIL, MAKING THE DOOR UN-OPERABLE FROM INSIDE, OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD THIS FAILURE OCCUR AS A RESULT OF A CRASH, THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BACKSEATS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS (WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE, BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH...). IN MY CASE, THE TWO, SEPARATE FAILURES WERE NOT THE RESULT OF ACCIDENTS, BUT BOTH REAR DOOR MECHANISMS DID FAIL (AT DIFFERENT OCCASIONS...), WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ABILITY TO USE THE BACK SEATS FOR OCCUPANT USAGE IN THE METHOD DESIGNED/INTENDED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER (SUPERSTITION SPRINGS TOYOTA, MESA, AZ), THE ELECTRICAL SOLONOID THAT CONTROLS THE LOCK MECHANISM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE LOSS OF OPERABILITY (AT A COST OF $300 TO REPLACE), AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM. THE SAME MECHANISM IS ALSO USED ON THE FRONT DOORS, AS WELL.

TOYOTA CAROLLA HAD A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRES DUE TO SALT AND MOISTURE - HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON 94 PRIZM. *AK

ON 5/1/03 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT LOW SPEEDS AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER AND WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I APPLIED THE GAS AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. I DROVE TO MY HOME AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. ON 05/02/03, THE CAR STARTED BUT NOT AS QUICKLY AS NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND DESCRIBED THE ABOVE SITUATION. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. ON 5/6/03, I HAD THE SAME INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD ALTERNATOR. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 65,170 MILES ON IT. PRIOR TO THAT ON 07/31/00, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT 47,662 MILES. PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 08/06/98 AT 28,515. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE. *NLM THE CONSUMER IS HAVING ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS WITH HER VEHICLE. *TC

THIS IS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR TO FAIL, THE PREVIOUS ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT 53,000 MILES, 4 YEARS AGO. THIS IS NOT A STANDARD MAINTENANCE ITEM AND SHOULD NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS.M *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON LEFT AND THERE WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED IN ENIGNE.E VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. IF WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK, THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNT AS WELL. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT FLAMES WERE COMING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE HOOD WAS BUCKLING BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT. IT WAS VERY SCARY!

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING AN ICEBALL, VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE, CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING, THERE WAS NO STABILIZER BAR MADE FOR 1994 MODEL, THEY WERE ONLY MADE FOR NEWER MODELS. CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAUSED VEHICLE TO VEER OFF ROAD ROLLOVER SEVERAL TIMES, GREATEST IMPACT TO THE ROOF,NEITHER DRIVER WHO HAD ON SHOULDER STRAP NOR DOG WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *ET

MY HOOD BLOW OFF THE CAR AT 35/40 MPH -- THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THE HOOD RELEASE OR THE HOOD HINGES MY HOOD WAS THERE BUT ALSO FEEL OFF - *TR

DOORS HINGES AND LATCHES ARE INOPERABLE, CAUSING DOORS TO SWING OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND CANNOT BE CLOSED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED DOORS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH AROUND A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME SQUIRRELLY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE OF THE CAR WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE VEER TO THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO A UTILITY POLE. VISUAL EVALUATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND REMAINING SPINDLE SHAFT COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING LOOSENED/FAILED AND WHEN WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOBBLED THE SPINDLE SHAFT SHEARED AT THE OUTER BEARING'S INNER RACE SHOULDER (I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES).*AK MY DAUGHTER (OWNER & OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE) WAS INJURED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF CONTACT WITH THE UTILITY POLE. HER INJURIES INCLUDED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOREARM, LACERATIONS, FACIAL BURNS FROM CONTACT WITH THE AIR BAG AND BRUISING FROM THE SEATBELT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND HAS SINCE BEEN JUNKED. IT HAD APPROX. 120,000 MILES ON IT

WHEEL BEARING FAILED. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH DRIVESHAFT COMMENCED TO LOCK UP, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER , AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMSSION GEAR WAS CHEWED UP. ALSO, INTERNAL OIL SEAL FINL DRIVE IN TRANSAXLE FAILED, FORCING LUBE INTO OTHER HALF OF FRONT TRRANSAXLE. *AK

TWO TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. YH

TURN SIGNALS ARE FAILING TO WORK. ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.

TURN SIGNAL PREMATURELY DISENGAGES BEFORE CONSUMER COMPLETES THE TURN . DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT THIS CONDITION AS A PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 MPH, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VIBRATION THAT WAS GETTING WORSE AS I DROVE ALONG. THE ROAD APPEARED TO BE IN VERY GOOD (SMOOTH) CONDITION SO, AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES, I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND EXAMINED THE TIRES BY FEEL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING NOTICEABLE. THE LEFT REAR (DRIVERS SIDE) TIRE HAD A LARGE BULGE IN THE TREAD AREA. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: * CAR IS A 1994 GEO PRISM LSI WITH 2 PASSENGERS AND A LIGHT LUGGAGE LOAD * TIRE WAS A WYNSTAR PHASER R23 SIZE 185/65R14 86T M&S * HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS AT 65 MPH * TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN PRESET AT 32 PSI * WEATHER CONDITIONS CLEAR AND DRY - TEMPERATURE APPROX. 85 DEG. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER CAR WHEN ALL THE TREAD CAME OFF ONE OF HER TIRES. I RETRIEVED THE TREAD, STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT IT JUST CAME OFF IN ONE PIECE, DOING DAMAGE TO HER CAR AND ALMOST ROLLING THE CAR OVER.( DOT NUMBER: W2EP TIRE SIZE: P175/70R14 )

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH DRIVESHAFT COMMENCED TO LOCK UP, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER , AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMSSION GEAR WAS CHEWED UP. ALSO, INTERNAL OIL SEAL FINL DRIVE IN TRANSAXLE FAILED, FORCING LUBE INTO OTHER HALF OF FRONT TRRANSAXLE. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FELL OFF EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER A BUMP WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25MPH UNDER RAINING CONDITIONS CONSUMER STATES' LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMERS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE COMPLETLEY OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/CRASH. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT GMC NEVER SENT ANYONE TO INVESTIGATE WHY THE WHEEL FELL OFF, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS,THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD COIL/CARBURATOR & STARTER REPLACED. *AK

FLAMES AROUND OPENING OF GAS TANK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT